April 18, 2016
SUNYAC announces weekly honors recognizing 12 spring athletes
BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Eric Hamilton (JR), Oswego
Position:Â INF/C
Hometown:Â Liverpool
Cicero-North Syracuse
Hamilton's offense helped the Lakers collect three key wins over Brockport this weekend and take over first place in the SUNYAC. The junior went 5-for-10 at the plate, collecting four RBI along the way. Of those five hits, two were homers, tying him for the Oswego State record for home runs in a single season (11). Hamilton also had 11 total bases. In the field, the Liverpool, N.Y. native caught almost two complete games, not committing an error and securing nine putouts.Â
BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK – Zachary Jordon (SR) , Fredonia
Hometown:Â Akron, N.Y.
High School:Â Akron
Zach tossed a four-hit shutout over Oneonta on Wednesday. Jordon struck out 11 and allowed two walks. He set the stage for a series sweep of the Red Dragons. He improved to 3-3 on the year, with his third SUNYAC complete-game. It was his 15th career win and one of three Devil shutouts during a week the team went 5-1. The Devils shutout Bethany twice on Saturday, 8-0 and 6-0, which included a no hitter from freshman Ben Atkinson
MEN'S LACROSSE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Ryan Hubbard (SO) , Plattsburgh
Position:Â Forward
Hometown:Â Aquebogue, N.Y.
High School:Â Riverhead
Ryan Hubbard had a big 10 point week in a pair of SUNYAC wins for the Cardinals. Hubbard scored a pair of goals against Potsdam including the game-winner in a 10-8 win. The sophomore attackman then exploded against Geneseo for a career-high eight points on five goals and three assists while also adding three ground balls. Nine of his 11 shots against the Knights were featured on goal and finished 12-16 overall on the week.
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MEN'S LACROSSE GOALIE OF THE WEEK – Conor Nowak (JR) , Brockport
Hometown:Â Amherst, N.Y.
High School:Â Eden
The Golden Eagles posts a strong 2-0 week in SUNYAC play, opening the week with an 11-6 win against Geneseo on Wednesday and posting a 15-6 win at Oneonta on Saturday. Conor Nowak picked up all 120 minutes of action on the week in rout to the pair of wins. The Amherst, N.Y. native had 14 saves against the Knights, for a save percentage of 70 percent while facing 30 shots. He backed that performance up on Saturday, stopping six shots as the Golden Eagle net minder.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Kristen Ohberg (JR) , Cortland
Position:Â Attack
Hometown:Â Brewster, NY
High School:Â Brewster
Ohberg helped lead top-ranked Cortland (12-0, 4-0 SUNYAC) to a pair of road conference wins last week, compiling 15 points on five goals and 10 assists. In a 21-4 victory at Oneonta on Tuesday, Ohberg tallied a career-high nine points on three goals and a career-best six assists. She followed up with two goals and four assists in an 18-7 win at Oswego on Saturday. For the season, Ohberg is tied for the team lead with 59 points on 34 goals and 25 assists.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Courtney Szczesniak (SR) , Brockport
Position:Â Defense
Hometown:Â Liverpool, N.Y.
High School:Â Liverpool, N.Y.
Courtney Szczesniak played a key role in Brockport's pair of SUNYAC wins, aiding in keeping the Golden Eagles undefeated in 2016. In the Golden Eagles 15-7 win against Buffalo State, the senior powered for an impressive five caused turnovers. Szczesniak also picked up four ground balls and two draws in the win while also dishing an assist. In a 22-6 victory against SUNY Potsdam, the Liverpool, N.Y. native had one caused turnover and a monster seven ground balls. She also had four draws and wreaked havoc on the offense in the lopsided win.Â
SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK- Jordan Ott (JR) , Potsdam
Position:Â Shortstop
Hometown:Â Hilton, N.Y.
High School:Â Hilton
Jordan Ott hit a scorching .588 (10-17) in a 3-4 week for the Bears. She also scored nine runs, drove in eight and drew eight walks. On, Friday, she hit a two-run game-winning home run to lift Potsdam to its first win over Geneseo in 12 years. On Sunday, she recorded the 100th hit of her career in an extra inning loss to Oneonta. Ott is just the fifth Bear to achieve the feat.
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SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK- Katie Rutcofsky (SR) , New Paltz
Hometown:Â Plainview, N.Y.
High School:Â Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy
New Paltz senior pitcher Katie Rutcofsky posted a 0.64 ERA over 22 innings pitched in a 4-1 week for the Hawks. She posted a 3-0 record for the week and also struck out 19 batters. Rutcofsky drew the start but did not earn a decision in the team's 21-0 win over Brooklyn College on Wednesday. On Friday against SUNY Fredonia, she tossed both ends of the doubleheader, earning a 2-0 shutout in game one with six strikeouts before yielding just one earned run in a 6-2 victory over the Blue Devils in the nightcap. On Saturday against Buffalo State, she pitched the front end of a SUNYAC twinbill, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out three. On the season, she has a 2.83 ERA to go along with 55 strikeouts and a 9-3 record.
FEMALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK- Mary Kate Bida (JR) , Oneonta
Hometown:Â Millbrook, NY
High School:Â Millbrook
Bida led four Oneonta runners in the invited 10K, which included only runners that were able to meet a certain qualifying time standard at the Bison Classic hosted by Bucknell. Bida ended up second overall finishing only behind a runner from Division I Duquesne University. Her finishing time of 35:42.08 was good enough to break the school record by five seconds. Her time currently sits at No. 3 in Division III.
FEMALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK- Meghan Serdock (JR) , Oneonta
Hometown:Â Shoreham, NY
High School:Â Shoreham Wading River
Highlighting the performances at the Upstate Classic hosted by RPI on Saturday was a new school record in the hammer throw by Serdock. Serdock won the hammer and in the process bettered her own mark from a couple of weeks ago. Four out of her six throws on the day were farther than her school record finally settling at 52.28 meters (171'6"). Her mark is currently No. 5 in Division III. Serdock also finished fifth in both the discus and shot put events.
MALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK- Isaac Garcia-Cassani (SO) , Geneseo
Hometown:Â Holbrook, N.Y.
High School:Â Sachem North
Garcia-Cassani ran the nation's fastest 1,500 time of the year, broke a five-year old SUNYAC record and added a leg to a record-setting relay during the Bison Outoor Classic, hosted by Bucknell, this weekend. One of only two Division III runners competing in the fourth and final heat of the Invite section of the 1,500 on Saturday night, Garcia-Cassani posted a 3:45.71 clocking to finish seventh out of 16 runners, finishing less than four seconds behind the winner. He was the top Division III finisher in the event. The time broke the SUNYAC mark set by Fredonia's Nick Guarino (3:47.57) in 2011 by almost two seconds. On Sunday, Garcia-Cassani ran the third leg on the Knights' victorious 4x800 relay that posted a winning time of 7:42.62. The time broke an 11-year old program record by over seven seconds.
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MALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK- Jack Flood (JR) , Cortland
Hometown:Â Blue Point, N.Y.
High School:Â Bayport-Blue Point
Flood broke a 36-year-old school record in the decathlon with his winning score of 6,618 points at the Kutztown University Mondshein Multi event. His score is currently first nationally in Division III, and his high jump of 2.04 meters (6' 8.25") during the decathlon is ranked eighth nationally. Flood hit ECAC standards in both the high jump and the 110-meter hurdles (15.15) at the two-day event. He defeated 27 other competitors.
